Person Old Testament
Areli
Also known as Arelite
Areli, a son of Gad, is mentioned in the genealogy of Jacob and the census of the Israelites in the wilderness. Mentioned in 2 verses across 2 books, first at Genesis 46:16.
Why it matters. Son of Gad, grandson of Jacob
- Primary passages
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Areli
Areli is mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the sons of Gad, who was one of the twelve sons of Israel (or 'Jacob'). In Gen.46.16, Areli is listed among the descendants of Jacob who went down to Egypt during the time of famine. This genealogical record emphasizes the growth of the Israelite clan and the fulfillment of God's promise to make them a great nation.
Areli is also mentioned in the book of Numbers, during the census of the Israelites taken in the wilderness of Moab, near the end of their forty years of wandering. In Num.26.17, the descendants of Areli are listed as a clan within the tribe of Gad. This census was taken to determine the military strength of each tribe and to prepare for the allocation of the Promised Land among the tribes.
Apart from these mentions in the genealogical records and census, no further details about Areli's life or his descendants are provided in the biblical text. His inclusion in these lists highlights the continuity of the Israelite tribes and their growth as a nation, in fulfillment of God's promises to their forefathers.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Family
Family links from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0). Where the dataset marks an identification as uncertain, the mark is kept. Matthew and Luke give different genealogies for Jesus; see the Lineage page, which never merges them.
- Parents
- Gad
Appears in Scripture
Named in 2 verses across 2 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.